PETER
Dad, there was no ’chute. He’s probably dead –
MR DAWSON
(snaps)
Damn it, he might be alive!!
Peter is shocked at his dad’s outburst.
Mr Dawson stares at where the plane went down …
Cut to:
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 – DAY
Farrier lines up for his attack … Sighting the Heinkel as it commits to its bombing run over the destroyer, Farrier pushes forward on his stick, going into his dive …
Cut to:
INT. HOLD, GROUNDED TRAWLER – DAY
Everybody stares at the bullet hole, not making a sound …
Another shot punches a hole two feet from the first –
Highlanders near the holes ease away, squeezing up against other soldiers …
BANG! A third shot, directly above the first …
Two Highlanders grab their rifles, going for the stairs –
TOMMY
No! Then they’ll know we’re in here.
HIGHLANDER 1
Why else are they shooting at us?!
TOMMY
Look at the grouping …
Everybody looks at the three bullet holes.
TOMMY
Target practice.
BANG! A fourth hole, near the others … Cut to:
EXT. MOONSTONE, ENGLISH CHANNEL – DAY
The Moonstone is getting closer to the Spitfire bobbing on the waves.
Close enough to see that it is sinking …
MR DAWSON
Peter, go forward with the boat hook.
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 2 – CONTINUOUS
Collins smashes the canopy back and forth on its track … Jammed, jammed, jammed.
Water starts pouring in, streaming through the gap in the half-open canopy. He shuts it … Trapped … Opens it, yanking, water pouring in …
Collins searches around looking for inspiration, for an implement, for anything –
Water rising past his ankles … his calves …
Cut to:
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 – DAY
Farrier dives, plummeting towards the Heinkel …
He glances across at the 109, which suddenly banks towards him, clearly reacting to Farrier’s attack …
Cut to:
INT. HOLD, GROUNDED TRAWLER – DAY
As the men stare at the bullet holes, water starts slopping through the lowest ones … A Highlander goes to plug the holes
BANG! The Highlander screams, clutching his face. His comrades pull him back, trying to smother his cries …
The water pours in steadily through the lowest holes. Alex points at the target zone –
ALEX
We have to plug it!
HIGHLANDER 2
After you, mate!
They stay back from the holes, wary. Watching the water pour in …
Cut to:
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 2 – DAY
Collins pulls the steel flare gun from its holder. Water is coming up over his legs now … He smashes the flare gun into the canopy, again and again …
Cut to:
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 – DAY
Farrier fires at the Heinkel. Tracers zipping at the bomber. The 109 rises at him, guns blazing. Farrier rolls away, trying to dodge the fire –
EXT. SKY ABOVE DUNKIRK HARBOUR – DAY
As Spitfire 1 rolls away, the Heinkel releases its load – bombs falling around the destroyer –
Cut to:
INT. HOLD, GROUNDED TRAWLER – DAY
A burst of machine-gun fire opens a new group of holes beside the first –
Alex watches the water spraying in. He turns to the Dutch Seaman –
ALEX
How do we get off?! Do we need to ditch some ballast?!
The Dutch Seaman looks at him, uncomprehending –
ALEX
Weight! Do we need to lose weight!
The Dutch Seaman shrugs.
SEAMAN
Weight, yes.
Alex turns to face the group –
ALEX
Somebody needs to get off.
HIGHLANDER 1
Well volunteered.
ALEX
We don’t need a volunteer. I know someone who ought to get off …
Alex turns to Tommy and Gibson. Points at Gibson.
ALEX
This one. He’s a German spy.
TOMMY
Don’t be daft.
Alex stares Gibson down …
ALEX
He’s a bloody Jerry. You might not’ve noticed that he hasn’t said a word, but I have. He doesn’t speak English – or if he does it’s with an accent thicker than sauerkraut sauce –
TOMMY
You’re daft. Tell him.
Gibson just stares at Alex …
ALEX
Yeah, tell me.
Nothing. Just the sound of water spraying in hard, jetting in through the bottom holes …
Cut to:
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 2 – DAY
Collins smacks the canopy. The flare gun bounces off. He drops the flare gun, scrambles to find it under the water. The water is rising up his chest …
Cut to:
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 – DAY
Farrier cuts right, dodging away from the 109 –
Banking hard, he gets a clear look at the destroyer weathering the explosions.
A plume of water right next to the destroyer comes so high he flies through the top of its spray.
Cut to:
INT. HOLD, GROUNDED TRAWLER – DAY
Alex turns to Highlander 1, holds out his hand for his gun. Highlander 1 hands it over. Alex moves at Gibson, pointing the rifle, hooks the barrel on Gibson’s tags, pulling them closer to read –
ALEX
Tell me … Gibson!
Tommy looks at Gibson, panicking –
TOMMY
Tell him, for God’s sake!
Alex pushes the rifle against Gibson’s cheek. Gibson cracks –
GIBSON
FRANÇAIS! JE SUIS FRANÇAIS!
Tommy stares, shocked. Alex moves back slightly, taking this in.
A burst of machine-gun fire. Everyone ducks from ricochets.
ALEX
A Frog. A bloody Frog. A cowardly little queue-jumping Frog …
With the end of his rifle Alex shakes Gibson’s tags –
ALEX
Who’s Gibson, eh? A naked dead Englishman lying out on that sand. Or did you at least have the decency to bury him?
‘Gibson’ just stares.
TOMMY
He did. I helped him. I thought it was his mate.
ALEX
Maybe he killed him –
TOMMY
He didn’t kill him –
ALEX
How do we know?!
TOMMY
How hard is it to find a dead Englishman on Dunkirk beach, for God’s sake?! He didn’t kill anyone – he was looking for a way off the damned sand like the rest of us!
The water is spraying in from more and more holes as the water level rises …
Alex has the rifle on Gibson. Another burst of machine-gun fire.
HIGHLANDER 2
Haven’t they had enough practice by now?!
HIGHLANDER 1
They’re making sure she won’t float.
Highlander 2 looks at the holes spraying water, the water pooling in the bottom of the hold. He turns to the Seaman –
HIGHLANDER 2
Will she still float?!
The Seaman assesses the leaks …
SEAMAN
Float, yes. With less weight, yes –
ALEX
And we know who’s getting off –
TOMMY
You can’t do that. We’re on the same side.
Alex nudges Gibson with the rifle –
ALEX
Go on, up you go –
TOMMY
As soo
n as he pokes his head out they’ll slaughter him –
ALEX
Better him than me –
TOMMY
It’s not fair –
ALEX
Survival’s not fair.
HIGHLANDER 1
No, it’s shit. It’s fear and greed. Fate squeezed through the bowels of men. Shit.
TOMMY
He saved our lives.
HIGHLANDER 2
And he’s about to do it again – Go on –
Alex starts shoving Gibson up the stairs.
TOMMY
No! Just stop!
Alex turns to Tommy, looks him in the eye –
ALEX
We need someone to get off so the rest of us can live – You want to volunteer?
TOMMY
Fuck no. I’m going home.
ALEX
And if this is the price?
TOMMY
I’ll live with it, but it’s wrong.
Alex shoves Gibson up another step, opens the door –
TOMMY
Alex, one man’s not going to make enough difference –
HIGHLANDER 1
You’d best hope it does, cos you’d be volunteering next –
TOMMY
What?
ALEX
(indicates Highlanders)
We’re regimental brothers, mate. Just the way it is.
Gibson grabs for the rifle. Tommy jumps at Alex to help Gibson. They smash against the hull – as they drop into the water, the ship levels –
SEAMAN
FLOAT! WE FLOAT!
HIGHLANDER 2
START THE BLOODY ENGINE!
The Seaman is already crawling out the hatch, reaching up –
The engine starts, loud as loud can be –
Machine-gun fire strafes the hull. The men duck below the waterline …
The Seaman throws the screw into reverse, full throttle …
The men hold their breaths under the water at the bottom of the hold as bullets pepper the hull …
Cut to:
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 2 – DAY
Collins, water up to his ears now, grabs the flare gun – swinging underwater less effective.
Now he panics, pushing his face up against the canopy, banging with his fists, instinct taking over, no more thought, no more plan – banging, banging, water rising over his ears. Smash – something cracks into the canopy right above his head. He recoils. It impacts the canopy again, smashing a hole –
It is a boat hook …
Collins pulls himself through the hole, elbows first, forcing himself through, pushing off his seat, underwater, he pushes up from the sinking plane …
EXT. WATER, JUST OUTSIDE DUNKIRK HARBOUR – CONTINUOUS
Collins breaks the surface, gasping, looks around –
A private yacht with a young man on the bow, boat hook extended …
Collins grasps the boat hook.
COLLINS
(breathless)
Afternoon.
Cut to:
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 – DAY
Farrier comes around again, searching the sky for the German planes …
He looks down at the destroyer. It is leaking oil from a large hole in its side …
The dark oil slick spreads quickly across the water, covering the men in the water between the trawler and the destroyer …
Cut to:
EXT. THE MOLE – DAY
The destroyer Basilisk casts off. Men cover every available piece of deck.
Commander Bolton watches her wake. Colonel Winnant approaches –
COLONEL WINNANT
We’ve wasted the day, Commander.
COMMANDER BOLTON
I share your frustration, Colonel.
They hear distant shots –
Commander Bolton raises his field glasses … He sees a blue trawler stuck in the shallows miles down the beach.
COMMANDER BOLTON
Grounded trawler, taking fire.
Colonel Winnant takes the field glasses …
COLONEL WINNANT
The enemy’s breaking through the dunes to the east. This is it.
INT. HOLD, GROUNDED TRAWLER – DAY
Tommy comes up for air, gasping, spluttering …
Water is pouring in from dozens and dozens of holes …
Alex comes up, coughing, with Gibson …
ALEX
We’re off!
Alex crawls over to the stairs, climbs out into the well –
EXT. TRAWLER – CONTINUOUS
Alex pokes his head out as the Seaman is sneaking up to see where they are headed –
The Dutch Seaman turns the wheel, jumps back onto the floor of the well as bullets impact the cabin. He throws the engine into forward gear, turns to Alex –
DUTCH SEAMAN
THE HOLES! PLUG THE HOLES!
Alex crawls back downstairs –
INT. HOLD, TRAWLER – CONTINUOUS
Alex falls down the stairs –
ALEX
PLUG THE HOLES! PLUG THE HOLES!
The men stuff rags, bolts, fingers, anything they can lay hands on to plug as many holes as possible …
Cut to:
INT. CABIN, MOONSTONE – MOMENTS LATER
Collins, drying himself with a blanket, looks down at George, whose breathing is shallow, sightless eyes open.
COLLINS
(to Peter)
I don’t really know, son. You were right not to move him. (Reassuring.) You’ve done the best for him you can.
EXT. MOONSTONE, WATER OUTSIDE DUNKIRK HARBOUR – CONTINUOUS
The Shivering Soldier watches Collins come out on deck –
SHIVERING SOLDIER
Is he alright?
PETER
(out of shot)
No.
Peter is glaring at the Shivering Soldier.
PETER
No, he’s not –
BOOM! Collins follows Mr Dawson’s gaze to a destroyer up ahead being bombed by a Heinkel, huge plumes of water rising just beside her …
The Shivering Soldier retreats into himself. Peter runs up to the bow –
A blue fishing trawler a quarter of a mile off, sinking …
PETER
Dad, there’s men in the water!
Mr Dawson looks ahead to where Peter is pointing. He puts the throttle forward, heading into the fray …
Collins spots Spitfire 1 arcing around, trying to get a bead on the Heinkel …
COLLINS
Come on, Farrier …
Cut to:
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 – DAY
Farrier pulls on the stick, lining up behind a 109 …
He fires, chasing down the plane, firing again … Smoke from the German plane, which starts to drop …
Farrier is in a heavy dive, when his engine chokes.
Farrier’s hand darts forward, switching to his reserve tank before the engine can die …
The engine catches again. Farrier pulls out of the dive …
Cut to:
EXT. THE MOLE – DAY
Through the binoculars Colonel Winnant watches the blue trawler pushing out to sea, low in the water …
Commander Bolton watches a destroyer, under full steam, heading out to the Channel …
Where there are shapes of boats on the horizon …
EXT. DECK OF TRAWLER – CONTINUOUS
The Dutch Seaman aims the boat at a destroyer out at the mouth of the harbour …
EXT. HOLD, TRAWLER – DAY
Tommy, Gibson, Alex, Highlander 1 and the others stuff the holes as best they can. The makeshift plugs pop out every few seconds – the soldiers scrabble under water to find them and stuff them back in, hands pressed against water jets, spray coming in everywhere …*
EXT. THE MOLE – CONTINUOUS
Omitted.*
EXT. DECK OF TRAWLER – CONTINUOUS
The Dutch Seaman looks over the rail, concerned, to see how fas
t his boat is lowering into the swell …
Cut to:
EXT. MOONSTONE, WATER OUTSIDE DUNKIRK HARBOUR – DAY
Collins watches Farrier spin around to get after the Heinkel.
The Moonstone comes up on the men in the water. Collins comes to the side, to help Peter fish men out, notices the surface of the water –
COLLINS
(to Mr Dawson)
Oil. We’re getting into oil!
Mr Dawson puts the screw into reverse, stopping the boat.
They fish men out of the water – the men covered in oil, anonymous in their glossy black filth …
Cut to:
INT. COCKPIT, SPITFIRE 1 – DAY
Farrier chases down the Heinkel, closing in as its top turret opens up on him, tracer fire lighting up all around him –
He dives down under the range of the rear turret, then angles up, firing at the bomber’s tail …
Cut to:
EXT. BLUE TRAWLER – DAY
The Dutch Seaman sees water sloshing over the deck.
DUTCH SEAMAN
ABANDON SHIP! ABANDON SHIP!
INT. HOLD, TRAWLER – CONTINUOUS
The soldiers, holding back the water, cannot hear him … One by one they start to abandon the task. More and more water pouring in … Alex and Gibson are last – Alex turns, sees they are alone, grabs Gibson by the shoulder then jumps for the exit. Gibson, still holding back the water, notices too late –
EXT. BLUE TRAWLER – CONTINUOUS
Tommy gets on deck, sees the Keith, a quarter of a mile away. He dives into the water, pulling away from the swamped trawler –
All the men dive off the sinking boat, swimming for the Keith.
Dunkirk Page 8